Lions vs Chiefs Prediction, Odds, and Our Best Bet for Sunday Night Shootout

The Detroit Lions are coming in hot into Arrowhead Stadium with momentum and confidence, while the Kansas City Chiefs are in a territory they haven’t been in for quite a while — reeling, not leading. These teams meet tonight in a game that suddenly carries big implications for both.

The Lions are 4-1 after 4 straight convincing wins. The Chiefs, on the other hand, are 2-3 and facing pressure to avoid a 2-4 start. That’s not the kind of start anyone is used to with the Patrick Mahomes-led team. But here we are in 2025 with the Lions surging, and the Chiefs slipping.

Game Details and Current Betting Odds

Kickoff is set for later tonight at Arrowhead Stadium, one of the toughest venues in the league. But let’s be serious; that hasn’t fazed this Detroit team. The Chiefs are currently 2.5-point favorites, with the total set at a hefty 52.5 points. The Lions are +120 on the moneyline, while the Chiefs sit at -142. The line says this game is close — and that might be the only thing these teams have in common right now.

Detroit has scored 34+ points in 4 straight games after getting crushed by Green Bay in their opening game. Their recent wins include a 37-24 win over Cincinnati and a 38-30 shootout win over Baltimore. They have the top-scoring offense in the league, and Jared Goff is undoubtedly playing like a top-10 quarterback. Goff has 1,187 yards, 12 TDs, and just 2 interceptions, with a completion rate just north of 75%. On the road, he’s been even better than that as he’s hitting 70+% of his passes in 6 straight away games.

Kansas City comes in after a brutal 31-28 Monday night loss to Jacksonville that nobody saw coming. It was a game in which they racked up 13 penalties for 109 yards, threw a pick-6, and looked disjointed most of the way. That’s 3 losses in their last 5 games. The Chiefs started 2-4 back in 2021 and still made the AFC Championship Game, but this version doesn’t look nearly as sharp as that one.

Offense vs Defense — Where Each Team Stands

The Lions are doing everything well on offense. Amon-Ra St. Brown is playing like an All-Pro with his 407 yards and 6 TDs, Jahmyr Gibbs is running wild with 325 yards and 4 TDs, and Goff is running the show with plenty of poise. Detroit ranks 1st in scoring with 34.8 PPG and 7th in total offense. They’re also top 10 in time of possession and rushing yards.

On the other side of the field, Mahomes has had to do too much. He leads the team in rushing in 3 of their 5 games, and all 3 were losses. While he’s thrown for a decent 1,257 yards with 8 TDs and 2 interceptions, he’s often improvising because his offensive line and running game just aren’t enough. Thayer Thornton has stepped up as a receiving option with 272 yards and 3 scores, but without Rashee Rice, who is suspended, the passing game lacks punch.

Defensively, Kansas City has some real concerns. They’re allowing 11.5 yards per play against play-action, which is the worst in the NFL. Detroit’s play-action game, especially with Goff under center, could eat them alive the entire game, and you can bet there will be plenty of that. The Chiefs are also giving up success on 74% of passes against play-action, which is again, the worst in the league. That’s a recipe for trouble.

Meanwhile, the Lions’ defense has been better than expected. They’re 8th in total yards allowed, 7th against the run, and have allowed just 22.4 PPG, which puts them right around league average. Aidan Hutchinson has returned from injury looking like a game-wrecker with 5 sacks and 12 QB hits, and Jack Campbell leads the team with 48 tackles. Things are looking right all around for the Lions.

Yes, the Lions’ secondary is thin after a rash of injuries, and they’ve already signed and started veteran Tre Flowers — but they’ve been good enough, especially with a strong pass rush helping them out.

Why the Lions Are a Live Dog

The Lions are simply playing better football. They’ve beaten 3 playoff-caliber teams in the Ravens, Browns, and Bengals, and they’ve done it by double digits, which is impressive in itself. They rank well ahead of the Chiefs in most offensive categories, including total yards, scoring, rushing, time of possession, and sacks.

Kansas City, meanwhile, keeps finding ways to lose. The stats say they’re middling on both sides of the ball as they’re 13th in offense, 13th in defense, but the film shows a team lacking any sort of rhythm and struggling with discipline. If the Chiefs couldn’t clean things up in 5 weeks, it’s hard to trust them against a team that looks this dialed in.

Yes, Mahomes is dangerous, and yes, Arrowhead is loud, but this Detroit team isn’t intimidated. They’re healthy on offense, creative in play design, and efficient at the quarterback position. And right now, they’re just better.

Final Score Prediction and Best Bet

Detroit has all the momentum behind it, and they seem to have all the answers. Kansas City still looks like they’re searching for theirs. The Lions are better on offense, more disciplined, and they have the ability to control the clock and expose Kansas City’s soft spots in coverage.

• Lions vs Chiefs Prediction: Lions 27, Chiefs 24
• Best Bet: Detroit Lions +120 moneyline

Just take the value here. The Lions are playing like a complete football team, and they’re catching the Chiefs at the perfect time. We’re looking for Goff to throw at least 2 touchdowns, with Hutchinson making life difficult for Mahomes on the other end. Stranger things have happened this season, but we have to go with both the numbers and our gut on this one, and we’re taking the Lions on the moneyline.